The words “Via Dolorosa” are Latin for “Way of Suffering” or “Way of Grief.” The Via Dolorosa is a walking route through the Old City of Jerusalem. It follows the approximate route Jesus took to the cross, and Christian pilgrims have been retracing it for many centuries.
The First Station of the Cross or beginning point of the journey is where Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate. Another Station along the way is where Simon took up the cross for Jesus. The last five Stations of the Cross, the final section of the 2,000 foot journey, are found inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. They mark where Jesus died and where his body was placed when it was removed from the cross.
In January, our tour group followed the Via Dolorosa through the narrow streets of the city. Occasionally we had to move aside for a car to pass by. A cold rain fell. We were passed by (and we passed) hundreds of people. Some were fellow tourists. Most were ordinary residents of the city (Jews, Muslims and Christians) hurrying along and going about their ordinary routines. Because of the daily tourist traffic, dozens of little shops line the path. Young men tried to catch our attention with trinkets we might take home as souvenirs. We also passed cobblers and produce stands and noticed exotic aromas from butcher shops.
For all those reasons I found it very difficult to concentrate on the purpose of our walk. It wasn’t to purchase scarves or olive wood figurines or to study people. The purpose was to reconnect with the man who walked that path of suffering two thousand years ago.
As we conclude Lent, I hope and plan to reflect on my own limited experience of Jesus’ experience as he followed the Way of Suffering. I hope to move beyond my personal frustrations of that busy, noisy day in Jerusalem. I hope to move beyond the clutter of daily living which is so similar to the clutter, noise and other distractions of our long walk in Jerusalem.
I know that your life is cluttered, too! So may you move beyond the clutter, too, as we all observe Holy Week and remember the events of Christ’s suffering and death!
Paul